Category:North Dakota Dioceses
From Eurêka
Diocese of Bismarck
Diocese of Bismarck Two priests had been accused of sexual abuse up to January 2003. Until March 2002, Bishop Zipfel allowed the Rev. Steve Zastoupil and the Rev. Norman Dukart to serve in parishes “despite substantiated allegations of sexual molestation of minors which took place many years ago,” and which the diocese had been aware for years. Zipfel said the diocese receives molestation complaints against priests “from time to time” and would not say how many settlements it has paid to victims. A month before the priests were removed, one of Bishop Zipfel's top aides said she knew of no cases of sexual misconduct by the diocese's priests.
(alphabetical listing)
[3 offenders identified, 3 listed]
Caniere case Rev. Henry Caniere convicted for abuse of children, 1991.
Dukart affair Rev. Norman Dukart admitted molesting children decades earlier and had been disciplined. Zipfel's new policy prompted him to ask Dukart to resign from his parish. Prosecutors do not plan to file charges, March 2002.
Zastoupil affair Rev. Steve Zastoupil admitted molesting children decades earlier and had been disciplined. Zipfel's new policy prompted him to ask Zastoupil to resign from his parish. Prosecutors do not plan to file charges, March 2002
Diocese of Fargo
Diocese of Fargo Diocese of Fargo encompasses 30 counties in eastern North Dakota and includes 158 parishes with 30 deacons and 92 active priests and 15 working outside of the diocese, who serve a Catholic population of 87,730. The Most Reverend Samuel J. Aquila, bishop since March 2002, announced that the diocese would close 33 parishes by the year 2010, 21 August 2004.
Diocese of Fargo abuse In the wake of the Rev. Charles Fischer's admission, the Diocese of Fargo announces that two other priests face allegations of sexual abuse of children, 2000. Three priests had been accused of sexual abuse up to January 2003 (NYT survey). Bishop Aquila reported that between 1950 and 31 July 2003, 17 priests and deacons had had allegations of sexual misconduct with minors brought against them.þ Of the 17, 12 of the clergy belonged to the diocese; the other five were religious order priests or priests from other dioceses. Of the 17 clergy, four were deceased and 13 were no longer in active ministry, National Survey September 2003.
(alphabetical listing)
[17 offenders identified, 6 listed]
Anon priest I Priest in the diocese resigned after admitting to sexual misconduct with children, February 2002.
Anon priest II Priest resigned as a seminary teacher and is under criminal investigation after telling Fargo Bishop Samuel Aquila in that he had molested children while a parish priest, February 2002.
Anthony affair Rev. Abraham Anthony accused of sexual misconduct. Removed 2000. Returned to India.
Fischer case Rev. Charles Fischer tells counselors and church officials that he sexually abused several children from 1995 to 2000. Admitted sick behavior to Bishop.
Sayasaya affair Rev. Fernando Sayasaya, a fugitive who admitted molesting boys in Diocese of Fargo, returned to his native Philippines to teach English grammar to teens in Manila: “I'm trying to restrain myself.”
Wild affair Rev David Wild sued for alleged abuse 1992.
